This year's high hunt kinda crazy

[savagehunter]

So my son and I headed up to the same valley we hunted last year. Six miles in but with about 60 pounds less gear.weather was perfect and we got off to a great start opening morning with 11 deer in the meadow with two bucks at about 400 yard that were legal. Unfortunately it took me twenty minutes to identify them as such in the spotting scope. 25 x not quite enough first lesson. He did manage to get a shot at the basket 4x4 but the wind was a little more across the valley then we thought lesson 2. Dead on height wise but 12 inches in front of the buck no second chance. After 2 years of hunting very hard he got his first shot on a buck. We felt pretty good about our chances. That afternoon we realized the 3.5 mile long valley that we had shared with six hunters the year before had 22 hunters besides us in it this year. Pretty tight but still excited. We saw two 3x3 come out that evening on horses though we only saw one doe and the valley sounded like a gun range with at least 13 shots during the day. The next day we posted up on the same meadow and only managed to see one doe seemed like most of the deer bedded before light sat til 11 then went hiking . A lot more rifle activity from the lower valley. For the evening we moved down to a different meadow and immediately started seeing deer including a couple of forks coming down the hill. We could see two hunters running around frantically off to our left a couple of hundred yards then boom they shot the 4x4 that was standing about 600 yards above us. Later told us that they ranged it at a 910 yard shot and had already shot one 3x4 at 850 and missed 3 other deer at over a thousand yards including a huge 5x5. They explained that they had 30000 dollars worth of geovids custom rifles high end spotting scopes ballistic computers and other whirlygigs. Was not very happy being shot over. They did give me some good advice on what elevations the larger deer were holding and that most were spotted in very small windows above Rick faces. Really improved our glassing. Lesson 3 . The next morning we had the lower valley to ourselves and spotted a lot of deer around 11 am on the east side I spotted a 5x5 hog at around 8 or 900 yards by my guestimate . Well we tried to get up to him by planning a stock 2500 elevation rise in three quarters of a mile. Well man cannot see over 14 foot high buck brush . Lesson 4. After an hour and a half we were on top of the cliff and Mr giant mule deer was long gone. We learned that the majority of the deer are on that side of the canyon with very limited visibility and access so much sign so many trails, sign and beds and a lot of sweat lesson 5. We hunted hard that night and the next morning all in all we saw 42 deer 7 bucks three that were legal. Our last morning we spoke to the last hunter left in the valley a seventy year old man who only carried his 44 mag and he told us that he was present when the long range shooters had shot the thousand yard shot on the 5x5 his story much different then theirs evidently they got a hit and one of them made the same climb me and my son had. Found blood spent one half hour looking and gave up. These same guys left red bull cans food cans triple a batteries and other trash all over their camp thanks guys lesson six. It was a long hard hike out but a very enjoyable trip wish we could have stayed the whole season. I think we learned a lot this time and hopefully soon I will put my boy on his first kill.

[jackelope]

 

[boneaddict]

   That's sad about those idiots, but glad you had some excitement and learned some hunting.   I don't consider shooting deer at 1000 yards hunting so that kind of makes me ill that they were doing that stuff.   Good chance they are members on here and will see this.  I also hate finding trash in the high country.

[Jonathan_S]

This does not tempt me to ever try the high hunt.  If it were cooler and you could go in further, then maybe.

If somebody shot over me...never mind   

[npaull]

Slob hunters with no ethics who litter are among my least favorite human beings. Few things enrage me more. I'd WAY rather spend time (and share the woods) with liberal greenies than slob hunters who litter.

[savagehunter]

I was pleasantly surprised tons of hikers also and every one was very nice and wished us good luck and not one dirty look from over 50 non hunters. I wouldn't miss the high hunt experience definitely not about getting a kill the whole atmosphere and settings are movie like and makes you feel accomplished without having set any goals but to get in and get out. My son who just turned 18 is the reason we went last year as his birthday is Sept 11 he said that was what he wanted for his birthday and now wants to do it every year. He told me that when I'm to old to make it he'll start taking his kids makes me very proud that he still wants to do this after three years of no deer in today's instant gratification society for a young man to show that kind of patience and take the experience as the reward makes me so proud

[hntrspud]

Sounds like one heck of a trip all in all. I dont think shooting animals that far is hunting either. Not many advantages for the game you are trying to pursue. 

[savagehunter]

Well honestly if I had the equipment and the practice and confidence to be sure I could get the kill at 800 yards I would have shot that 5x5 but I do not have any of that and I was shooting a 308 so I will hopefully get another chance on the wet side we hunt during regular season at a much closer deer. What I did not like was the thought of someone with the gear the experience taking the shot finding blood and putting no effort into finding the animal. I really don't want to turn this into a long range ethical discussion as everyone has an opinion on that and everyone's skills and such are different but if you take that shot follow through and please when your in there pack out what you bring in because it is a long way to pack without having to cary out others trash.

[7mag.]

Glad you guys had a good trip. I really enjoy the high hunt every year, even though it is getting harder and harder to get away from people. Unethical hunters leaving trash behind really pisses me off.

[elkoholic1]

 

[kodiak 907]

BE A HUNTER NOT A SHOOTER... GET IN RANGE!!!

[wafisherman]

BE A HUNTER NOT A SHOOTER... GET IN RANGE!!!

 

Not a fan of long range shooting where you crack one off and then cross your fingers when you find out if you hit or missed and by how much, then trying to correct for wind and such.  If there is that much uncertainty, you are as likely to gut hit the deer or otherwise wound it and have it run off and never see it again.  I can see missing a deer because your heart was racing, jerked the trigger, and otherwise made a mistake - but shooting and just hoping for the best doesn't seem like responsible hunting.  If you pull the trigger or release that arrow, you should be VERY confident in the shot you are taking.  But just my 2 cents.  As for the trash - no excuse.  A$$ kicking needed there...  I picked up some fishing line and other bits of trash at a nice lake when I took my boys up to the high hunt this year for our first time.  We don't litter, and we pick up what we find.  Leave our camp the same or better than we found it.   

[coachcw]

i'm glad you and your son where able to spend time in the woods and saw deer. on the long range issue my bet is there's a few members that could shoot better groups at 800 yards than some others could shoot at two hundred  better luck next year.

[steen]

I bet you have some awesome pictures!!!! Post some!

[Watimberghost]

Sounds like a great hunt with your son! I love your attitude, just being in that country IS the experience. Seeing deer is the bonus. Everytime I step foot in the high country I learn something new, sounds like you both learned a lot. Thanks for sharing, look forward to hearing of your success next year

[B.G.hunter]

BE A HUNTER NOT A SHOOTER... GET IN RANGE!!!

Just because you can shoot that far doesn't mean you should.  Even some of the best long range shooters I know have trouble keeping the bullets within a reasonable kill zone at those long ranges. 

[hooker]

I bet you have some awesome pictures!!!! Post some!

Do you and your son a favor.  DO NOT post pics of the high hunt. 

[Hilltop123]

  I am happy to hear lemon aid was made from lemons! You are exhibiting great patients, a diminishing trait of the modern hunter and our modern society. (hence why people shoot at such distances)
  20+ years ago I purchased my first elk tag. The journey to August 1, 2014 has been long, tiring, frustrating and maddening but worth ever second.  The trek has been filled with experiences that can not be repeated, with sights and sounds you will only experience on a hunting adventure.
  On August 1, 2014 I harvested my first elk. The things you learn on the path to success are the things that build future success. So I'm hoping!   
 But from the sounds of your post, you have the PMA and are on the right track.
 With the help of this forum, hopefully you can take the information gleaned and speed the learning curve to success.
 Never give up and good luck.......Kris

 














     

[Ridgerunner]

If this is the current state of the high hunt in this state, what a joke. 

[Ridgerunner]

Time for permit only it sounds like.

[washelkhunter]

There has been so much yakin on here the last few seasons about how great the early high hunt is that no one should be surprised there is a crowd up there now.   

[hooker]

Yep,    Between this place and facebook the quality of the experience and it being an OTC tag is gonna get smashed.

[snowpack]

Time for permit only it sounds like.

Or maybe declare it when you get a deer tag--modern/muzzy/bow/high buck.  And it would be any weapon. 

[Antlershed]

BE A HUNTER NOT A SHOOTER... GET IN RANGE!!!

Just because you can shoot that far doesn't mean you should.  Even some of the best long range shooters I know have trouble keeping the bullets within a reasonable kill zone at those long ranges.

If they can't keep it within a kill zone size target at 800-1000, I'm not sure how you can call them "the best long range shooters you know", unless you don't know any that are actually proficient with their equipment. 

[savagehunter]

While we are on this long range shooting I need to find a spot where my son can practice at more then 100 yards preferably 300 too 400 I want him to be comfortable at that range . We have shot a Ton at 100 which is fine here on the west side but the more open  Eastside seems fairly difficult to get that close any ideas in snohomish or Skagit counties

[snowpack]

While we are on this long range shooting I need to find a spot where my son can practice at more then 100 yards preferably 300 too 400 I want him to be comfortable at that range . We have shot a Ton at 100 which is fine here on the west side but the more open  Eastside seems fairly difficult to get that close any ideas in snohomish or Skagit counties

Any clearcuts you can shoot across?  Then you can usually mix up angles too.

[savagehunter]

Yeah there are some just kind of hard moving targets in the brush that will probably be what we do don't want to get in hot water with the law but he definitely needs the practice at more then 100 thanks

[Bill W]

Kenmore has a 300 yard range open to members with special permission.  There's also Plantation that has a 300 yard line.   What probably would work best for the two of you is go to eastern WA next May and June to hunt rockchucks.   You have to find a steady postion in the field, range the rockchuck and figure out the wind.   Makes any deer easy to hit.

I wondered if you two would go to the same spot this year.

[B.G.hunter]

BE A HUNTER NOT A SHOOTER... GET IN RANGE!!!

Just because you can shoot that far doesn't mean you should.  Even some of the best long range shooters I know have trouble keeping the bullets within a reasonable kill zone at those long ranges.

If they can't keep it within a kill zone size target at 800-1000, I'm not sure how you can call them "the best long range shooters you know", unless you don't know any that are actually proficient with their equipment. 

yeah but off a bench not just anywhere in the mountains and many different factors come in to play most of the long-range shooters have 16+ pound guns that you wouldn't pack miles in the wilderness.  Yes I know people that can put sub 10" groups at 1000 yards but most wouldn't think about it with a hunting rifle. Plus most bullets don't have much energy to make effective instant kill at that range.

[ROCKWHEELER]

Sounds like you have a great son and had a awesome time. I can't wait till my boy is old enough to go with me

[savagehunter]

I don't even know what a rock chuck is but it sounds fun where do you go to do that bill

[boneaddict]

Permit only on the highhunt.   Interesting.   

[brocka]

Permit only on the highhunt.   Interesting.

PLEASE!

[B.G.hunter]

Permit only on the highhunt.   Interesting.   

or you could make it a choice between able to hunt the high hunt or the late seasons  by having to designate early or late on your deer tag.   

[savagehunter]

You know I actually didn't mind the crowd every other hunter up there respected each others space I didn't feel to crowded and thought there was a good opportunity for a harvest. There is plenty of space up there for everyone and I am totally against any more regulation on our hunting rights. Next year we are going to go to a different place where we can get up top and not be in front of the deer plus I'd love to see the world from up on top.

[xXLojackXx]

Permit only high hunt and put a rifle weight restriction on it too. Eliminate the guys that carry their 17lb .338's out in the woods and shoot across the valleys. I say that and I have a .338 Edge custom rifle and enjoy log range shooting. But just because I can hit a paper plate at 1600 yards doesn't mean I'm going to take my rifle up to a crowded hunting area and shoot over who knows how many other hunters on that 1300 yard shot at a buck.

[300rum]

The easiest thing to do is just make it Archery Only like the rest of the state. 

[X-Force]

Permit only on the highhunt.   Interesting.

PLEASE!

Why? The hunter success on high hunts is low 10-15%

Permit only high hunt and put a rifle weight restriction on it too. Eliminate the guys that carry their 17lb .338's out in the woods and shoot across the valleys. I say that and I have a .338 Edge custom rifle and enjoy log range shooting. But just because I can hit a paper plate at 1600 yards doesn't mean I'm going to take my rifle up to a crowded hunting area and shoot over who knows how many other hunters on that 1300 yard shot at a buck.

I know you wont see many guys up there with 17lb rifles...

I know a guy that got a great buck on the high hunt this year and he shoots a fluted heavy barrel and his 100 yrd shot is making him think about taking a 22" sporter up next year.

Idiots taking stupid long shots isn't just a high hunt problem.



Why does it seem like everyone on this site is out to limit the time other hunters spend pursuing game?

[xXLojackXx]

It's not to limit the time people can hunt, it's to increase the quality of deer in the units. For the same reason there's permit elk hunts. Before long you'll be lucky to see a legal buck in a popular high hunt unit.

[X-Force]

Before long you'll be lucky to see a legal buck in a popular high hunt unit.

I'm assuming most hunters are already lucky to see a legal buck 

[Watimberghost]

Wow, special permit for high hunt? That would be a huge bummer for, probably the majority of guys, that don't have the problem of over crowded areas. I would absolutely be against that.

[SWHUNTER]

Wow, special permit for high hunt? That would be a huge bummer for, probably the majority of guys, that don't have the problem of over crowded areas. I would absolutely be against that.

I agree with you timberghost. I was up for 5 days this year and never saw another hunter.